Authorities started investigating on October 11th, when they say the student told his family that the teacher hit him. The sheriff's department says the student was disruptive in class and distracting others, so the teacher says she tapped him on the left side of the cheek to get his attention, sit down and be quiet.

A release from the sheriff's department indicates this is the first case to be prosecuted in Cumberland County under a new law from the General Assembly, where law enforcement needs to get written approval before charging school employees with a crime that is allegedly committed as part of their work schedule.